The relationship between ecologically unequal exchange (EUE) and environmental conflicts is foundational to understanding resource extraction dynamics between centre and periphery regions of the world system. EUE shows asymmetric flows of energy and materials between the two regions, with environmental impacts “outsourced” to the periphery. This study analysed 96 environmental conflict cases from the EJAtlas database involving French or Chinese companies in Africa. The substantial drain of biophysical resources from Africa to France and China has profound impacts on local systems, often triggering environmental conflicts as communities resist extractive practices. The study states that French and Chinese firms’ operations in Africa significantly contribute to material exports to their home countries. The conflicts that arise from these operations, as shown in the graph, are an adequate proxy to comprehend the local impacts of EUE.
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